Groucho Marx

1890 - Born on October 2nd in New York City. The bushy-browed, cigar-smoking, wisecraker with the painted on mustache and stooped walk was the leader of the Marx Brothers.

1920 - Married to Ruth Johnson February 4th.

1929-1941 - Marx Brothers did their best known movies for 12 years.

1942-1946 - Despite his seeming insouciance, Groucho loved performing and was disheartened that none of his radio series in the mid-'40s were successful. (Nor was the Marx Brothers' 1946 comeback film A Night in Casablanca.)

1945 - Married to Katherine Marvis Gorcey on February 24th.

1947 - When producer/writer John Guedel approached him to host a radio quiz show called You Bet Your Life, Groucho initially refused, not wanting another failure on his resume. But he accepted the job when assured that, instead of being confined to

a banal script or his worn-out screen character, he could be himself, ad-libbing to his heart's content with the contestants.

1947-1961 - You Bet Your Life was a rousing success on both radio (1947-1956) and television (1950-1961 on NBC), winning high ratings and several Emmy awards in the process.

-He had an occasional reunion with his brothers (the 1949 film Love Happy)

1954 - Married to Eden Hartford on July 17th.

1959 - The Marx Brothers, TV special The Incredible Jewel Robbery) Groucho became a solo performer for the remainder of his career.

1970-71 - Marx returned to the limelight when his old films were rediscovered by young antiestablishment types of the era, who revelled in his willingness to deflate authority and attack any and all sacred cows.

1972 - he returned to active performing with TV guest appearances and sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall.

1973 - Was told by studio executive Walter Wanger to lose the greasepaint mustache as it was an "obvious fake". (Source: Joseph Adamson III in his book Groucho, Harpo, Chico and sometimes Zeppo.

1974 - Received an honorary Oscar.

- Appeared in the article of Playboy, March edition, entitled Groucho Marx in His Eighties.

1977 - Died from pneumonia on August 19th in Los Angeles, California.

2005 - Came fifth in a Channel Four (UK) poll to find the all-time favorite comedians' comedian.